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Identity Theft

Recovering from Identity Theft

Is someone using your personal information to open accounts, file taxes, or make purchases?

Visit IdentityTheft.gov, the federal government’s one-stop resource to help you report and recover from identity theft.

Data Breach? Lost Info?

Did you get a notice that says a company lost your personal information in a data breach? Did you lose your wallet? Or learn that an online account was hacked? Here are steps you can take to help protect yourself from identity theft.

Protecting Your Identity

What can you do to keep your personal info secure? Are identity protection services worth the cost? What about credit freezes? Check out the FTC’s identity theft articles to find out.

Free Resources for Your Community

You can help people learn about identity theft — whether you’re chatting with friends and family, sharing info on a social networking site, or taking resources to a religious group or PTA meeting. It’s easy to use and share these free resources from the FTC.

Free Identity Theft ResourcesFree booklets —in English and Spanish — to help people in your community learn how to protect their identity and recover if an identity thief strikes

For Law Enforcement

Credit bureaus and other businesses often require that identity theft victims provide a police report to remove fraudulent debts. Please share our memo to law enforcement with fellow officers so they understand how they can help.

For Attorneys and Advocates

The FTC’s Guide for Assisting Identity Theft Victims is designed to assist attorneys who counsel identity theft victims. The guide highlights the rights and remedies available to identity theft victims under federal law, and provides other useful resources, like sample letters.

For Businesses

Many companies keep sensitive information about customers or employees in their files or on their network. The FTC has free data security resources — including free publications, videos, and tutorials — to help businesses of any size protect their customers and meet their legal obligations.